Search UT

It had been almost 30 years since John Henry had been in a classroom when he started his master’s program in accounting.

Now, after two years attending lectures, turning in assignments and completing group projects, on Saturday, he will graduate, crossing the stage at the Florida State Fairgrounds with more than 1,900 graduates from the University of Tampa.

Henry enrolled in his program after learning of an opportunity to teach from one of his colleagues, who was an adjunct professor. Henry was already an accomplished accountant, and the idea of sharing his practical experience appealed to him. So when he applied for an adjunct position at the University, and he was told it required having a master’s degree, he went back to school.

He soon realized he needed to re-learn some of the basics.

“I didn't really get how this all works, and what I needed to bring. I didn't even know if I needed a number 2 pencil,” he laughed.

Unknowns aside, he was confident in his decision. After the first semester, however, he realized what a big undertaking it was to attend school while managing a day job. Once, he had an important work meeting scheduled while class was in session, and the professor found him an empty classroom where he could take the meeting.

“So, for those who are thinking of going back, it’s absolutely super rewarding, but it's going to be a little terrifying at points,” he said.

After a class project about the basics of research using the scientific method, he developed an avenue of research about changing the segments of a business. That research, which he worked on with Becca Baaske, assistant professor of accounting, ultimately helped the CEO and CFO at his company be comfortable with a decision to change the segments of their business.

“Segmentation is real work; that’s a heavy lift. Without the inspiration from Dr. Baaske, I wouldn’t have gotten there. I might not have been able to pull this off, to actually segment the business.”

Henry added that his final course is helping him assess and understand company cultures, company dynamics and the acquisition process. “All of that is very impactful, too,” he said.

“A tour through academia helps. It reinforces what you had previously, and then there's aspects that you probably didn’t get to chase when you were going through college the first time, and now you get to chase it,” Henry noted.

When he walks across the stage on Saturday, his wife and three children will be in the audience, cheering on his accomplishment. Henry is hoping to lead by example and get his kids thinking about their own educational goals. His wife, too, went back to school later in life, transitioning from a career in human resources to one in nursing, so it is not the first time they’ve witnessed a parent graduate, he said.

“Hopefully they’ll appreciate it. Hopefully they’ll see that your evolution, your experiences, it doesn't stop. There isn't an end, you just continue to learn, continue to grow and maybe that’s what we’ve demonstrated.”

He also looks for some more time in the classroom for himself.

“Hopefully at some point in my career I’ll be able to help as an adjunct professor, kind of start down that journey,” he said.